EMBARC and Tyson Foods Boost Legal Aid Access for Refugees

On October 23, 2019, in Des Moines, Iowa, the Ethnic Minorities of Burma Advocacy and Resource Center (EMBARC) declared that they had received a $100,000 grant from Tyson Foods. This grant will be used to support EMBARC's Legal Navigator Project. Tyson Foods' significant contribution will enable EMBARC to enhance awareness and backing for legal services for immigrants and civil matters. It will also boost self-reliance and economic stability for refugees in Iowa communities like Waterloo, Columbus Junction, Independence, and Perry, where Tyson Foods has facilities. Connecting the various refugee tribes and ethnic groups, which represent over 20 distinct languages and cultures, to available resources and support is often difficult. Henny Ohr, EMBARC's executive director and one of the founders, stated, "Access to services and resources is often hindered by language, culture, location, costs, and lack of support. This grant from Tyson Foods is crucial in providing the much-needed support for legal services to enhance the economic mobility of refugee newcomers and our broader community." Many of the beneficiaries of this grant have spent years in refugee camps and are unfamiliar with modern conveniences. Refugees who are directly resettled in Iowa receive only 90 days of basic services, while those who move to Iowa from other states receive no resettlement services. EMBARC's community conversations revealed that over 95% of participants had no access to education in the U.S. in their native language except through EMBARC. Many families do not seek support because they are unaware of the laws or the resources available to them. For instance, Bawi Za Muang, a Tyson team member from Perry, Iowa, escaped Burma in 2007 due to severe military mistreatment. After six years of struggling to survive without a home, Muang, his wife, and two children arrived in the U.S. in March 2013. Despite not speaking English and not knowing how to drive, they enrolled in English and driving classes. In 2015, Muang started working at Tyson and has been there since. His wages have increased, and in 2017, his family was able to buy a home. With the help of EMBARC's Legal Navigator program, Muang and his wife became citizens in 2019. Muang expressed his gratitude, saying, "I feel safe and consider the United States my country now. I am very happy to be a United States citizen and am proud to work at Tyson. I could not have achieved this happy life without the support of Tyson, EMBARC, and my family." Garrett Dolan, senior manager of corporate social responsibility at Tyson Foods, said, "We're proud to support EMBARC and share its belief in equipping people with skills for success and in building stronger communities. This investment will provide legal immigration services such as green cards and citizenship applications. We recognize these factors are critical for refugees and immigrants to thrive in America." About EMBARC EMBARC is the first refugee-led nonprofit service provider in Iowa, founded by refugees for refugees. Its mission is to empower refugees to succeed through advocacy, education, and community development. EMBARC believes that true and lasting change comes from within a community empowered to help themselves. EMBARC's unique "Navigator" framework invests in refugee leaders who learn vital information and skills to share with peers, while helping remove barriers and build connections with the mainstream community. For more information, please visit www.embarciowa.org. About Tyson Foods Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE: TSN) is one of the world's largest food companies and a recognized leader in protein. The company, founded in 1935 by John W. Tyson and grown under three generations of family leadership, has a broad portfolio of products and brands. Tyson Foods continually innovates to make protein more sustainable, tailor food for everywhere it's available, and raise the world's expectations for how much good food can do. The company, headquartered in Springdale, Arkansas, has 121,000 team members. Tyson Foods strives to operate with integrity, create value for its shareholders, customers, communities, and team members, and serve as a steward of the animals, land, and environment entrusted to it. Visit www.tysonfoods.com. EMBARC contact: Henny Ohr 515-286-3928 Tyson Foods contact: Derek Burleson 479-290-6466